Installed the TriGlide Stuff Rear Lifts
#1
Installed the TriGlide Stuff Rear Lifts
So, I was previously a naysayer. I even went so far as to having bought and then returned the lifts to Dennis about a year ago. Btw...he took them back without a question. The reason I returned them without installing was that I did a lot of twisty mountain road riding, was happy with the handling, and didn't want to change it...which I erroneously thought the lifts would do.
Now...fast forward a year. I found myself and the TriGlide relocating to the San Diego area, where I do not do as much tight twisty roads. Also, I am planning to do some trips carrying the Tri in my trailer. I found that if I am not careful with the angle of the trailer my pipes dragged. Also, admittedly...the low rider rear look was starting to bug me. So, I ordered the lift kit from Dennis again. After ordering, my lifts showed up on my door step in a few days.
The installation went well. The biggest issue I had was jacking up the trike. I used the Craftsman "yellow" mc jack. Lifting from the center did not work as I could not get the jack far enough back to keep from lifting the front end, and had no way to keep the front down. So, I piled pieces of 2x4s on the lift to clear the pipes and jacked it from the rear cross member. This was not the most stable...but it worked. Then partway into the install I discovered one of the 2x4s was lifting the axle, and so the axle did not drop when I removed the original brackets. So I had to use a hydraulic jack to lift the Tri, so I could move the errant 2x4, thereby making the axle happy.
After the jacking challenge, the install went smoothly...after I discovered that "follow the instructions" really meant follow the instructions EXACTLY!!! By following the proper order of installation of the bolts, the install went easily.
My impressions:
- I much better like the look! No more droopy '54 Buick look.
- after about 300 miles, of up to 75MPH freeway riding, and some moderate twisties, I did not notice much difference in handling.
Note: I am running mfg recommended tire pressure, with 35 pounds in the rear shocks.
- I can take tight turns as fast as my rear seat commander is wiling to tolerate, without any sense of instability.
- one change/improvement in the handling is that the font tire does not break loose as easily when powering through turns.
Bottom line: I am very pleased with the improvement, and very impressed with Dennis' service.
Oh yeah...FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS EXACTLY!!!
Now...fast forward a year. I found myself and the TriGlide relocating to the San Diego area, where I do not do as much tight twisty roads. Also, I am planning to do some trips carrying the Tri in my trailer. I found that if I am not careful with the angle of the trailer my pipes dragged. Also, admittedly...the low rider rear look was starting to bug me. So, I ordered the lift kit from Dennis again. After ordering, my lifts showed up on my door step in a few days.
The installation went well. The biggest issue I had was jacking up the trike. I used the Craftsman "yellow" mc jack. Lifting from the center did not work as I could not get the jack far enough back to keep from lifting the front end, and had no way to keep the front down. So, I piled pieces of 2x4s on the lift to clear the pipes and jacked it from the rear cross member. This was not the most stable...but it worked. Then partway into the install I discovered one of the 2x4s was lifting the axle, and so the axle did not drop when I removed the original brackets. So I had to use a hydraulic jack to lift the Tri, so I could move the errant 2x4, thereby making the axle happy.
After the jacking challenge, the install went smoothly...after I discovered that "follow the instructions" really meant follow the instructions EXACTLY!!! By following the proper order of installation of the bolts, the install went easily.
My impressions:
- I much better like the look! No more droopy '54 Buick look.
- after about 300 miles, of up to 75MPH freeway riding, and some moderate twisties, I did not notice much difference in handling.
Note: I am running mfg recommended tire pressure, with 35 pounds in the rear shocks.
- I can take tight turns as fast as my rear seat commander is wiling to tolerate, without any sense of instability.
- one change/improvement in the handling is that the font tire does not break loose as easily when powering through turns.
Bottom line: I am very pleased with the improvement, and very impressed with Dennis' service.
Oh yeah...FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS EXACTLY!!!
#2
#3
Yep
I have the lift kit here on my desk...the sad part is my new 2014 hasn't even been delivered to me yet and I'm buying upgrades! The jacking up is the only part I need to look into...I don't have a trike to look at to even determine how to do it best. So in two weeks when I get the trike I will look into the rear cross member technique. I would like it if it could be lifted under the engine area under frame like a normal Harley. But it seems everyone used the rear method and I will have to decide when I do install. Surprised you didn't notice much difference in the way it Handled?
thanks for info
Hap
thanks for info
Hap
#4
I have the lift kit here on my desk...the sad part is my new 2014 hasn't even been delivered to me yet and I'm buying upgrades! The jacking up is the only part I need to look into...I don't have a trike to look at to even determine how to do it best. So in two weeks when I get the trike I will look into the rear cross member technique. I would like it if it could be lifted under the engine area under frame like a normal Harley. But it seems everyone used the rear method and I will have to decide when I do install. Surprised you didn't notice much difference in the way it Handled?
thanks for info
Hap
thanks for info
Hap
#5
So, I was previously a naysayer. I even went so far as to having bought and then returned the lifts to Dennis about a year ago. Btw...he took them back without a question. The reason I returned them without installing was that I did a lot of twisty mountain road riding, was happy with the handling, and didn't want to change it...which I erroneously thought the lifts would do.
Now...fast forward a year. I found myself and the TriGlide relocating to the San Diego area, where I do not do as much tight twisty roads. Also, I am planning to do some trips carrying the Tri in my trailer. I found that if I am not careful with the angle of the trailer my pipes dragged. Also, admittedly...the low rider rear look was starting to bug me. So, I ordered the lift kit from Dennis again. After ordering, my lifts showed up on my door step in a few days.
The installation went well. The biggest issue I had was jacking up the trike. I used the Craftsman "yellow" mc jack. Lifting from the center did not work as I could not get the jack far enough back to keep from lifting the front end, and had no way to keep the front down. So, I piled pieces of 2x4s on the lift to clear the pipes and jacked it from the rear cross member. This was not the most stable...but it worked. Then partway into the install I discovered one of the 2x4s was lifting the axle, and so the axle did not drop when I removed the original brackets. So I had to use a hydraulic jack to lift the Tri, so I could move the errant 2x4, thereby making the axle happy.
After the jacking challenge, the install went smoothly...after I discovered that "follow the instructions" really meant follow the instructions EXACTLY!!! By following the proper order of installation of the bolts, the install went easily.
My impressions:
- I much better like the look! No more droopy '54 Buick look.
- after about 300 miles, of up to 75MPH freeway riding, and some moderate twisties, I did not notice much difference in handling.
Note: I am running mfg recommended tire pressure, with 35 pounds in the rear shocks.
- I can take tight turns as fast as my rear seat commander is wiling to tolerate, without any sense of instability.
- one change/improvement in the handling is that the font tire does not break loose as easily when powering through turns.
Bottom line: I am very pleased with the improvement, and very impressed with Dennis' service.
Oh yeah...FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS EXACTLY!!!
Now...fast forward a year. I found myself and the TriGlide relocating to the San Diego area, where I do not do as much tight twisty roads. Also, I am planning to do some trips carrying the Tri in my trailer. I found that if I am not careful with the angle of the trailer my pipes dragged. Also, admittedly...the low rider rear look was starting to bug me. So, I ordered the lift kit from Dennis again. After ordering, my lifts showed up on my door step in a few days.
The installation went well. The biggest issue I had was jacking up the trike. I used the Craftsman "yellow" mc jack. Lifting from the center did not work as I could not get the jack far enough back to keep from lifting the front end, and had no way to keep the front down. So, I piled pieces of 2x4s on the lift to clear the pipes and jacked it from the rear cross member. This was not the most stable...but it worked. Then partway into the install I discovered one of the 2x4s was lifting the axle, and so the axle did not drop when I removed the original brackets. So I had to use a hydraulic jack to lift the Tri, so I could move the errant 2x4, thereby making the axle happy.
After the jacking challenge, the install went smoothly...after I discovered that "follow the instructions" really meant follow the instructions EXACTLY!!! By following the proper order of installation of the bolts, the install went easily.
My impressions:
- I much better like the look! No more droopy '54 Buick look.
- after about 300 miles, of up to 75MPH freeway riding, and some moderate twisties, I did not notice much difference in handling.
Note: I am running mfg recommended tire pressure, with 35 pounds in the rear shocks.
- I can take tight turns as fast as my rear seat commander is wiling to tolerate, without any sense of instability.
- one change/improvement in the handling is that the font tire does not break loose as easily when powering through turns.
Bottom line: I am very pleased with the improvement, and very impressed with Dennis' service.
Oh yeah...FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS EXACTLY!!!
#6
I really hate to admit this, but after I put the trike away for the winter, I went to install the lift brackets. I laid them out on the floor and the install went pretty easy, followed the instructions. The next day I picked up the stock brackets and went to put a wire tie through them to put up on the shelf. There was my problem. They didn't match. I put the stock bracket back on the right side. Gezz, I felt dumb.
#7
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#8
IMHO... if you own a trike you need to own a set of shorty jack stands and a 2 Ton floor jack. I use them on the lift as well as on the ground. The floor jack comes in very handy to adjust the exhaust cross over tube and support bracket and many other things. You guys that have removed your exhaust understand how hard it is to line up the bracket bolt by yourself.
Tour Pack rails are a must. Makes a huge difference and is an easy install.
Tour Pack rails are a must. Makes a huge difference and is an easy install.
#9
IMHO... if you own a trike you need to own a set of shorty jack stands and a 2 Ton floor jack. I use them on the lift as well as on the ground. The floor jack comes in very handy to adjust the exhaust cross over tube and support bracket and many other things. You guys that have removed your exhaust understand how hard it is to line up the bracket bolt by yourself.
Tour Pack rails are a must. Makes a huge difference and is an easy install.
Tour Pack rails are a must. Makes a huge difference and is an easy install.
#10
Join Date: May 2012
Location: St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 43
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I have the lift kit here on my desk...the sad part is my new 2014 hasn't even been delivered to me yet and I'm buying upgrades! The jacking up is the only part I need to look into...I don't have a trike to look at to even determine how to do it best. So in two weeks when I get the trike I will look into the rear cross member technique. I would like it if it could be lifted under the engine area under frame like a normal Harley. But it seems everyone used the rear method and I will have to decide when I do install. Surprised you didn't notice much difference in the way it Handled?
thanks for info
Hap
thanks for info
Hap
All they can do is say no.